§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British delegation to the United Nations conference of the Committee of Disarmament in Geneva has had communications with representatives of other international committees in regard to proposals for a total chemical weapons ban in Europe.
§ Mr. LuceOur delegations to the conference on disarmament and to the Stockholm conference on disarmament in Europe have made it clear in those fora that proposals for a chemical weapons ban in Europe do not represent an adequate or satisfactory alternative to the global ban we are pursuing in the Geneva negotiations.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards proposals at the United Nations conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva for the creation of a chemical weapon-free zone in Europe, in co-operation with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, while simultaneously continuing negotiations for a global chemical weapons ban treaty.
§ Mr. LuceI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 29 October at column 815. A European ban would be no easier to negotiate, and bring much less benefit than a global ban. We will not be distracted by the superficial attractions of a limited approach.